Bolt, Fraser-Pryce head strong World Relays squad

Sprinting superstars Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce head Jamaica’s 44-member team to the second installment of the IAAF World Relays set for Nassau, The Bahamas from May 2 – 3.

The team, which comprises 23 male and 21 female athletes will be looking to better last year’s 41 points, which landed them in second position to the United States (60 points) at the event, set for the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium.

Bolt, who declared his availability a few days ago, will return to The Bahamas for the first time since the 2005 Central America and Caribbean Games, while two schoolboys, Twayne Crooks from Kingston College and St Jago’s Nathon Allen have been included in the 4x400m squad.

Three of the four members of last year’s 4x200m world record breaking team (1:18.63), Warren Weir, Nickel Ashmeade and Jermaine Brown return to the squad, which also includes the fast-improving trio of Julian Forte, Andrew Fisher and Kimarley Brown.

Commonwealth Games champions Rasheed Dwyer (200m) and Kemar Bailey-Cole (100m), quarter-mile talents Javon Fracis, Javere Bell and Edino Steele along with relay veteran and World Championships 100m bronze medallist Nesta Carter are the other big names on the male team.

Fraser-Pryce, who competed in the third-place-finishing 4x200m team last year is joined by stalwarts Veronica Campbell-Brown and Sherone Simpson, with world leader Elaine Thompson (10.92) all looking to make a mark at the meet.

Commonwealth 400m champion Stephenie-Ann McPherson and Diamond League winner, Novlene Williams-Mills, along with youngsters Shericka Jackson – making her second appearance at the meet - Christania Williams and Janieve Russell have also been named in the squad.